Lois Ione Emanuel

Lois Ione Emanuel of Beaver Dam, WI passed on to her Eternal Rest and to a reunion with her loving husband Bill and son Jay on Saturday December 5, 2009 at the age of 84 years. Lois was born in Appleton, WI on January 28, 1925, the daughter of Harm Edward and Serena Ann (nee Schabow) Tornow. Lois was both Baptized and Confirmed at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Appleton, WI. On August 6, 1949, William Henry “Bill” Emanuel and Lois Ann Tornow were married in the same church. A graduate of both Appleton High School and Appleton Business College, she worked for Wisconsin Telephone Company for eight years prior to her marriage. She became a loving wife and mother to two sons, Jeff and Jay, and in time, became a grandmother and great-grandmother as well. Lois was a “stay-at-home” Mom until both boys were in school, whereupon she resumed her professional career, holding positions in three Wisconsin school districts, Juneau, Cambria-Friesland and Mercer, alongside her husband Bill, a teacher, principal and superintendent. When Bill’s career dictated a move to Iowa, Lois took a part time job with Manpower in Des Moines in order to have free time for summer vacations at their beloved lake home in the Mercer Northwoods. Although Manpower’s assignments can be varied, she was often requested by and served at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in four different divisions: Radiation Therapy, Internal Medicine, Rehab and the Administrative Office. In 1982, Lois was selected from hundreds of employees to be Manpower Secretary of the Year, and was honored at a banquet held on the top of Parker Pen skyscraper in Des Moines, the parent company of Manpower. From September 1983 until her retirement in 1991, she wore several hats at the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce as Administrative Assistant to the Manager of Small Business, Vice President of Community Affairs and later as Affiliate Manager, which coordinates functions of all satellite chambers in the metro area, about eight in all. Lois’ community service included stints as TB/Christmas Seals President and as Secretarial Assistant to the Fire Dept., PTA and Lioness Club. She was a regular volunteer at the Historical Museum of Mercer, and crocheted/knitted more than 350 lap robes for Veterans in state homes. Lois was a Life Member of VFW Post 7852 and was active in the “40 et 8” in Dodge County, but was most active in the Ladies’ Auxiliary of American Legion Post 15 in Juneau, WI. She served as President of the Unit, and was a member of the Past Presidents’ Club. She also served as Treasurer of her Post and as Treasurer for the Auxiliary Second District. In 1999, Juneau Post 15 recognized her long volunteer service to veterans by dedicating in her honor a lighted outdoor sign to mark the location of their new clubhouse on East Oak Street. In between times, she still found time to lend free secretarial assistance to the Lions, Kiwanis, Wisconsin Veterans Council, Veterans Education Committee and the American Legion. Upon their retirement, Lois and Bill returned to Mercer and spent three seasons per year on the lake, while hosting and entertaining scores of their friends and guests from a dozen states and several foreign countries. Their hospitality was legendary and their guest book entries were good reading in themselves. Winters were spent touring the USA in “Harmena” a Winnebago RV named for her parents, Harm and Serena, with a special love for winter in Texas. Even after health issues sidelined their RV, they continued to winter in Mercedes, Texas near Brownsville. When the lawns and gardens and other upkeep of several acres became too much, the lake home was traded in for a double-wide home south of Beaver Dam, where Lois lived since 2005. Lois then rejoined the congregation of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Juneau, having also been a member during her residence in Juneau from 1956-1966. Lois is survived by her son Jeff (Shelly), grandson Mitchell (Heather) and granddaughter Alysha (Scott) and great-grandson Degan. She is preceded in death by her husband Bill, her son Jay, her parents and her brother Lowell Tornow. Visitation Thursday, December 10th from 12 Noon – 2 PM at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 400 S. Main Street, Juneau, WI. Funeral Service will follow at the Church at 2 PM. Rev. Paul Schupmann will officiate. Interment Juneau City Cemetery. Afterward, a celebration of Lois’s life will be hosted by the American Legion Post 15, and Ladies Auxiliary, at their clubhouse on East Oak Street. Come on over, Lois is buying one last round. The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home is serving the family. www.berndt-ledesma.com.

Lois Ione Emanuel

January 28, 1925 - December 5, 2009